The Reason for God
06.27.08 - 11:27am
I know I’m behind the game and probably 7,129 blogs in terms of mentioning or reviewing Tim Keller’s book The Reason for God. However, this book came out while I was on quite a lengthy hiatus from all but a few pieces of literature and I’ve just completed this one. Anyway, as far as a review goes: GET THE BOOK. READ THE BOOK. READ IT AGAIN.
The book is structured in two parts. Part one is THE LEAP OF DOUBT in which Keller addresses common questions or assertions he hears about faith in Christ:
- There can’t be just one true religion
- How could a good God allow suffering?
- Christianity is a straightjacket
- The church is responsible for so much injustice
- How can a loving God send people to hell?
- Science has disproved Christianity
- You can’t take the Bible literally
After a brief intermission, he moves onto Part Two: THE REASONS FOR FAITH
- The clues of God
- The knowledge of God
- The problem of sin
- Religion and the Gospel
- The true story of the cross
- The reality of the resurrection
- The Dance of God
All of these chapters are written for both those who have doubts (believers or non-believers) and those seeking to help others with those doubts. I’ve already found myself picking back through the book and re-learning things so that they sink in deep. Perhaps the most undermentioned part of the book is the Epilogue. It is worth the purchase of the book. Let me throw a snippet your way before you head to amazon or borders or wherever you get your books and crack this one open:
Motivations are nearly always mixed. If you wait until your motives are pure and unselfish before you do something, you will wait forever. Nevertheless, it is important to ask what is primarily moving you toward an action, especially when it comes to faith commitment. For example, you may be at a time of great difficulty and need. You are sharply conscious, maybe for the first time in your life, that you need God and some kind of spiritual help in order to make it. There’s nothing mistaken about that, but it would be very easy in that condition to approach God as a means to an end. Are you getting into Christianity to serve God, or to get God to serve you? The latter is a kind of shamanism, an effort to get control of God through your prayers and practices. It is using God rather than trusting him.
You can visit the site: The Reason for God and if you are ever looking for more Keller resources, Steve McCoy has the market cornered.
Have you read this book? Did you like or not like–why or why not?
I love this book, and it definitely is one to read through more than once, as it is filled with such great content. I think Tim Keller’s wisdom really lends to some great conversation pieces with unbelievers, I have had a number of wonderful conversations within many of the subjects in this book. This along with “Simply Christian” by N.T. Wright ought to be required reading for those who breathe (this includes a good amount of people right?)
I’ve heard good things about Wright’s book. I’m eager to get to it! Speaking of books—hope yours is getting published soon…let’s go man.